The Pali Canon is the scripture collection of Theravada Buddhism.[1] "Pali Canon" is the usual English name;[2] it is also known by the name "Tipiṭaka".[3] It is in Pali,[4] which is a language of ancient India.[5] Mahayana Buddhism tends to regards the Tipiṭaka as a sort of "Old Testament"[6]. Most scholars recognize the Canon as the oldest source for the Buddha's teachings.[7]

Contents

Background

The Canon is traditionally regarded by the Theravada as the Word of the Buddha (died around 400 BC[8]), though not always literally.[9] It is said in the Canon itself that whatever is well said is the Word of the Buddha.[10]

According to a tradition generally regarded quite favourably by scholars, the Canon was written down from oral tradition in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in the last century BC.[11] The oldest known manuscript fragment of the Canon dates from the 8th or 9th century, but in general manuscripts have not survived from before the 15th century, and the majority are probably no older than the 18th.[12]

The first complete printed edition of the Canon was published in 38 volumes in Burma (Myanmar) around 1900.[13] The first digital version was completed in Thailand in 1988.[14]

Table of contents

English titles are taken from the Pali Text Society: titles of translations published by them, except for 3 books they haven't yet translated.

Vinaya Pitaka (Book of the discipline)

Sutta or Suttanta Pitaka

Digha Nikaya (Dialogues of the Buddha)

Majjhima Nikaya (Middle length discourses of the Buddha)

Samyutta Nikaya (Connected discourses of the Buddha)

Anguttara Nikaya (Numerical discourses of the Buddha)

Khuddaka Nikaya: as can be seen from the external links below, the contents of this section vary between editions, with some including all the following but others omitting some

New Guide to the Tipitaka. A Complete Reference to the Pâli Buddhist Canon, Matthew Meghaprasara, Sangha of Books, Delhi, 2013; Amazon

Anthologies in English

Selections from all three pitakas

The Lion's Roar: an Anthology of the Buddha's Teachings Selected from the Pāḷi Canon, David Maurice, Rider, London, 1962; American printing Citadel, New York, 1967

Selections from the first two pitakas

Some Sayings of the Buddha According to the Pali Canon, translated by F.L. Woodward, Oxford World Classics, 1924; reprinted Buddhist Society, London, 1974

The Life of Gotama the Buddha, Compiled Exclusively from the Pali Canon by E. H. Brewster, Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner, London, 1926

The Life of the Buddha As It Appears in the Pali Canon, the Oldest Authentic Record, translation from the Pali, selection of material, and arrangement, by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka, 1972: [8]; distributed by Wisdom Books

Selections from the last two pitakas

Buddhist Meditation: an Anthology of Texts from the Pali Canon, Sarah Shaw, Routledge, London / New York, 2006: [9]

Selections from all five nikayas

Teachings of the Buddha: The Word of the Buddha: an Outline of the Teachings of the Buddha in the Words of the Pali Canon, compiled, translated, and explained by Nyanatiloka, Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Ceylon, 1935: [10]

In the Buddha's Words: an Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon, edited and introduced by Bhikkhu Bodhi, Wisdom Publications, Somerville, Mass., 2005: [12]

The Pali Text Society publishes Pali texts (including the Canon), translations (including most of the Canon), an Introduction to Pali, a Pali-English Dictionary, etc.; if some of the tabs at the top of the home page don't work on your browser, click on Sitemap at left